India has called for sustained investment in health systems, digital infrastructure and emergency preparedness to strengthen global health security, while stressing that equity must remain central to the international response to future pandemics.
Representing India at the UN High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response in New York on September 25, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said the lessons from COVID-19 must translate into long-term investments, stronger institutions and resilient health systems.
India pushes coordinated preparedness
Addressing the meeting at the United Nations Headquarters, Srivastava outlined India’s coordinated approach to pandemic prevention and response, covering a broad range of potential health emergencies.
The approach includes expanding laboratory networks, emergency coordination mechanisms, healthcare workforce capacity, medical stockpiles and clinical care infrastructure. According to Srivastava, these capabilities need to be embedded within national health systems and development plans and supported through domestic financing, with international assistance complementing national responsibility.
The emphasis on preparedness comes as governments seek to avoid the disruptions witnessed during COVID-19, when weaknesses in healthcare capacity, supply chains and emergency coordination affected countries across the world.
Digital infrastructure seen as global public good
Srivastava also called for digital public infrastructure to be recognised as a global public good, highlighting India’s experience during the pandemic.
Digital systems played a role in disease surveillance, vaccination, risk communication, supply-chain management and maintaining continuity of health services during COVID-19.
For India, the experience has also highlighted the potential of scalable digital infrastructure to support health systems during large-scale emergencies, particularly in areas such as data exchange, vaccination management and public communication.
India highlights vaccine and medical assistance
India’s role in supporting other countries during the pandemic was another key part of the country’s intervention.
Srivastava said India supplied 300 million vaccine doses to around 100 countries and two UN entities during COVID-19, besides providing medical assistance to more than 150 countries.
She said the response reflected India’s commitment to the principle of “One Earth, One Health” and its support for countries of the Global South.
The emphasis on equitable access also has implications for the global pharmaceutical and healthcare supply chain, particularly for the availability of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics during future health emergencies.
Focus on pathogen access and benefit sharing
Srivastava described the WHO Pandemic Agreement adopted in May 2025 as an important milestone but stressed that its credibility would depend on establishing a fair Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system.
She said countries that contribute pathogens and biological resources should receive timely access to vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, technologies and other benefits, while national sovereignty must be respected.
India also maintained that the political declaration should not prejudge ongoing negotiations on the PABS annex. Implementation, she said, should take into account national circumstances and capacities.
On the One Health approach, India called for implementation in accordance with domestic law, international law and national circumstances.
WHO seeks faster progress
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted progress in strengthening the global health security architecture since COVID-19, including the WHO Pandemic Agreement and amendments to the International Health Regulations.
He stressed the need to conclude negotiations on the PABS system, warning that delays could affect the world’s ability to respond effectively to future pandemics.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, meanwhile, cautioned against complacency after COVID-19 and called for sustained political attention to pandemic preparedness.
She also highlighted community-based systems for early detection, surveillance and communication, which can help identify and contain emerging outbreaks at an early stage.
Preparedness becomes long-term investment
The UN meeting brought together member states and other stakeholders to review progress and challenges in pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
For India, the discussions underline a shift from treating pandemic preparedness as an emergency response issue to building it into long-term health policy, infrastructure investment and institutional capacity.
Srivastava concluded by stressing that preparedness is a shared responsibility and that equity should remain central to efforts to address future pandemics and outbreaks.
“Global solidarity must be demonstrated through action,” she said.